Hazendal is one of the oldest wine estates in the Cape but has enjoyed a remarkable reinvention over the past few years, with the reimagining of the food and wine experience, and the addition of world-class golf, sport and leisure facilities. The opening of a contemporary boutique hotel in late-2023 has sealed the deal on Hazendal as a destination of note in the winelands.
And while there has always been art scattered around the estate – from the corridors of the hotel walls to the lush estate gardens – this spring the estate looks to cement its cultural credentials with the launch of the Hazendal Festival: Soil Edition.
Hosted on the Bottelary Hills estate from October 4-6, 2024, the three-day Festival will include a two-day symposium for artists and creators, artist installations and performances, children's workshops, live music, wine and dining experiences.
It is all being curated by Khanyisile Mbongwa, former curator for the Liverpool Biennial, who has turned to an old Nguni proverb for her creative direction: ‘Belele nje, Abathulunga’. Or, in English: ‘They may be asleep but they are not quiet’.
‘The commissioned works of the invited artists, scientists, spiritual healers and cultural innovators interlock to understand the fertility of soil from the varying practitioners' points of view,’ explains Mbongwa.
These special commissions include a sculptural piece from Thania Petersen, a live intervention from Sethembile Msezane, an installation from Sisonke Papu, a wine-tasting intervention by Queezy Babaz and the presentation of the special edition Hazendal MCC label designed by Athi-Patra Ruga.
‘These interventions are site-specific, engaging with the land and the soil from the practitioners' own work with spirituality,” says Mbongwa. ‘As such, we invite those who come to the festival to be a part of the space, pivoting between being members of the audience and witnesses of encounters.’
The festival will also feature a gallery exhibition with works by celebrated contemporary South African artists including Lady Skollie, Inga Somdyala, Warren Maroon and Stephané E. Conradie. There will also be a live fashion show by fashion sustainability think tank Twyg, a live dance performance by Luke de Kock, short film screenings by filmmakers including Lerato Shadi and Santiago Mostyn, a sensuality self-discovery workshop by Tapiwa Guzha, and music and sound explorations by Chimurenga. The culinary offering will be created by the fine-dining Zulu chef Vusi Ndlovu together with Hazendal’s Head Chef Michelle Theron.
And, you can even bring the kids!
Alongside the cultural roster there will also be a dedicated children’s programme compiled by Faatimah Mohamed-Luke, which will run at Wonderdal from 10am – 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, in parallel with the rest of the festival’s day-time programme.
Weekend passes and one-day tickets are available for purchase on the Hazendal Wine Estate website.
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